Looking for more travel hacks and credit card perks? For our entire collection of reviews and guides, click here. Your next free hotel breakfast might just be a swipe away. Welcome to the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card review:
Hilton Gold without chasing 40 nights a year? A travel debit card with 0% foreign exchange fees? The Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card might sound too good to be true, but for £150 a year, it offers hotel perks, points on everyday spend, and no interest or credit checks. So, is it the smartest way to earn Hilton perks in the UK? Let’s dig in.
In This Post
What You Need to Know
- Annual Fee: £150 (non-refundable)
- Sign-Up Bonus: 10,000 Hilton Honors points after £2,500 foreign currency spend in 6 months
- Earning Rate: 1.5–4.5 Hilton Honors points per £1
- Hotel Status: Instant Hilton Gold as long as you hold the card
- Foreign Exchange Fees: 0% worldwide
- Credit Check: None – just a soft ID verification
- UK ATM Withdrawals: Not supported
- Provider: Powered by Currensea – links to your UK bank account
The Sign-Up Bonus: A Quick Hilton Top-Up
New cardholders get 10,000 Hilton Honors points if they spend £2,500 in foreign currency within 6 months.
It’s not massive, but it’s guaranteed. There’s no credit check, no income threshold, and it doesn’t matter if you’ve held Hilton cards before. Just spend abroad and collect your bonus.
Earning Hilton Points: Surprisingly Generous
Here’s what you’ll earn with the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card:
- 1.5 points per £1 on everyday UK spend
- 3 points per £1 on foreign currency spend
- 3 points per £1 at Hilton hotels in the UK
- 4.5 points per £1 at Hilton hotels abroad
That’s more generous than most reward debit cards, and with no FX fees, you’re not losing value when spending abroad.
The Gold Status Perk: Free Breakfast, Upgrades, and More
The big draw here is automatic Hilton Honors Gold status. Normally, you’d need 40 nights or $7,500 annual Hilton spend to get it. This card gives it to you from day one, and you keep it as long as you hold the card.
Gold gets you:
- Complimentary breakfast for two at most properties
- Room upgrades were available
- 80% bonus points on stays
- Late checkout, and more
Stay just 5–6 nights a year, and you’ve probably already broken even on the £150 fee with breakfast savings alone.
Lounge Access?
❌ No lounge access comes with this card.
✅ But you can access Hilton executive lounges if upgraded to an eligible room as part of your Gold status.
ATM Withdrawals Abroad
The card gives you free ATM withdrawals overseas up to £500/month. After that, there’s a 2.5% fee.
UK ATM withdrawals are not supported; you’ll need a separate card for that.
Bonus Features: The Quiet Extras
Point Booster
Activate this setting to round up each purchase to the nearest 10p and earn 1 Hilton point for every extra penny. A £2.93 purchase would round to £3.00, and you’d collect 7 bonus points.
Mastercard Protections
The card is a Mastercard debit, so you get fraud monitoring, card freeze options, and standard purchase protection, not quite Section 75, but still reassuring.
Hilton Honors Plus vs Hilton Standard Debit
| Feature | Hilton Standard Debit (£60) | Hilton Plus Debit (£150) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Silver | Gold |
| FX Fees | 0.5% | 0% |
| UK Spend | 1 point/£1 | 1.5 points/£1 |
| Overseas Spend | 2 points/£1 | 3 points/£1 |
| Hilton Spend Abroad | 3 points/£1 | 4.5 points/£1 |
The Plus version wins on every front unless you’re allergic to annual fees.
Can You Switch Between Versions?
Yes. You can downgrade to the £60 Standard Debit card if you decide Gold status isn’t worth the £150 fee. Just note:
- You’ll lose Gold status instantly
- FX fees jump to 0.5%
- Earning rates drop
Upgrading later is possible, but you won’t receive the sign-up bonus again.
Should You Get This Card?
✅ Yes, if…
- You stay at Hilton hotels a few nights per year
- You want Gold status without meeting stay or spend thresholds
- You spend money abroad and want 0% FX fees
- You don’t qualify for Amex or travel credit cards
- You prefer debit over credit
❌ No, if…
- You rarely stay at Hilton properties
- You want a big 50k+ sign-up bonus
- If you mostly spend in the UK, Amex Gold may be better
- You want lounge access, travel insurance, or credit-based perks
Is There a Faster Way to Earn Hilton Points?
Yes, but it’ll cost you credit eligibility (and a higher fee).
| Card | Annual Fee | Hilton Points Earn Rate (via MR) | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Plus Debit | £150 | 1.5–4.5 points/£1 | Gold status, 0% FX, no credit check |
| Amex Gold | £0 in Y1 (£195 after) | 2 points/£1 → Hilton (1:2 transfer) | Dining credit, travel offers |
| Amex Platinum | £650 | 3 points/£1 → Hilton | Gold status, lounge access, insurance |
If you’re happy using credit and can qualify, the Amex Gold or Platinum offer faster point earning and bigger sign-up bonuses. But for simplicity, flexibility, and FX savings, Hilton Plus Debit wins on ease of access.
Final Thoughts: A Hilton Hack That Just Works
For £150, the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card delivers:
- Gold status
- No FX fees
- Points on all spending
- No hard credit check
- A modest but useful bonus
It’s not a card for everyone. But if you stay with Hilton more than a few nights a year and want elite perks without the faff of credit card eligibility, it’s an easy win.
Want Gold status without the hassle?
Apply for the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card here.
Keep reading
- Hilton Honors Debit vs Hilton Honors Plus Debit: Which One Should You Get?
- What Does Hilton Gold Get You with the Amex Platinum?
- The Ultimate Guide to Hilton Honors: How to Earn, Burn, and Maximise Rewards.
